Columns

We lost Joseph several years ago. When it came time for the youth at church to add Jesus’ earthy father to the nativity scene, the carpenter from Nazareth was nowhere to be found.
He wasn’t in his usual cardboard box cubby, nor was he under the...

Recently, the Ruston chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness celebrated Christmas.
The 28th annual NAMI Ruston Christmas Banquet celebration was held on Dec. 16 at the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center. It was a phenomenal success....

The LSU AgCenter is offering an eight week Smart Portions program.
The Smart Portions program teaches people how to eat healthy and lose weight. Losing weight can be a challenging task unless you have great support.
The Smart Portions program is...

As we head toward 2015, Grambling State University is hoping for a better year as the school finds itself in tumultuous waters to close out 2014.
Early this month it was announced that a new state audit of Grambling State University shows equipment...

For my last three columns, I have written about DART Christmas Angels, about the generous hearts in our community and about acts of kindness, both big and small, made by so many people on behalf of the families we serve.
My heart is overflowing with...

Christmas time, holiday cheer, scrumptious food and gathering with friends and loved ones.
Nothing like the month of December and this time of the year, is it?
Bowl games galore and crunch time nearing for NFL fans (yes that does include the Saints...

Have you finished up your Christmas shopping?
Or are you scrambling for those last-minute gifts?
Well, my mission today is to save you from all the stress associated with the sports fan on Santa’s wish list.
If your friends or family members are...

December 28, 2 B.C. (Written by Josephus Printus)
“There has been quite a stir in town the last couple of weeks with all of the people coming in for the required census. The streets have been crowded; the cafes and inns are overflowing; and there...

When I first got my driver’s license at 16, I immediately had them put the little heart that indicates my desire to be an organ donor.
I’ve always thought that if I’ve passed away, and they can use my organs to save someone else’s life, I’d be glad...

During the holiday season, you no doubt have a lot going on in your life — work functions, gatherings with friends and neighbors, tracking down the elusive “perfect gift,” etc. But you may find it valuable to add one more event to your calendar: a...

Question: What exactly is an estate plan? I hear people talking about them, but I am not sure what one is exactly. Where do you get one? Who does that for you?
Answer: Even though you are not sure what an estate plan is, I’ve got news for you: you’...

Millions of Americans choose to “give back” to their communities by making donations to their favorite charities each year. In fact, according to the Giving USA Foundation and Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University, charitable contributions...

This has been one of the busiest number of days I’ve had in a row for a while, but one day turned out to be more than I had anticipated. I woke up early expecting rain, but of course it was still and almost sunny, so I was rushing around trying to...

I recently read a Facebook post that brought serious insight.
It stated, “Just a reminder to all you parents out there to be modest with your gifts from Santa. Not all parents have ton of cash to spend on making their kids’ Christmas special, so it...

Four years ago, I arrived on Louisiana Tech University’s campus by way of New Orleans to start my collegiate career.
I was young, ambitious and had recently made a bad decision to highlight my hair blonde as if I was part of some 90s boy band....

Don’t look now, but election season is just around the proverbial corner. Yep, the books have just closed on the 2014 runoffs, but 2015 portends to be politically active, too.
That’s the year we elect parish police jurors, sheriff, clerk of court,...

Lincoln Parish 4-H held the Annual Lincoln Parish 4-H Cooking Contest on Dec. 6 at Tractor Supply of Ruston.
4-H members from throughout Lincoln Parish had the opportunity to enter the cooking contest. The contest offered six categories that...

Driving through Ruston recently, I admired the vivid Christmas decorations and shimmering lights downtown. Our whole city glows with color. The Civic Center is majestic in its red and white outline, and I love the illuminated silhouette of the squad...

Colors of the Christmas season can be seen all over Ruston, with much of the credit due to Louisiana Tech University’s Agriculture Department.
Every year, Tech Farm sells poinsettias and Christmas cacti of all shapes and sizes with proceeds going to...

Cleaning off the notepad with some leftover notes, quotes and observations from the sports world:
• For Tech Nation, this couldn’t have worked out any better. The Bulldogs — Conference USA West Division champs and league runner-up — have a...